The Board has remanded the case for a new opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right big toe disability, specifically whether it is related to service-connected disabilities or if it was caused by his own actions while climbing stairs.
The deciding factor: The previous VA opinion did not adequately address the mechanism of injury and potential proximate cause due to service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Right big toe disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 6, 2020
- Citation
- 20009688
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20009688.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for a right big toe disability and remanded the issue of sleep apnea. The decision is binding only with respect to the specific issues decided.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right big toe disability as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were related to his active military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD; sleep disorder; lumbar spine disability; right lower extremity disability; left lower extremity disability; skin disability; right shoulder disability; left shoulder disability; bilateral hearing loss; tinnitus; headaches; and dizziness. The Veteran's period of active service is not established as honorable.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right big toe disability and a right shoulder scar require further examination to determine their etiology.
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